With both of the top two prize-winners hailing from Romania, and with other Honourable Mentions arising from India, New Zealand and Canada, the Wild Plum Haiku Contest 2015 truly was an international affair.

Given that 105 poets from 27 countries entered the competition, it is all the more noteworthy that Australians filled three out of the top nine placings.

Comments from the judge Gillena Cox regarding Vanessa’s haiku (along with responses to the first two place-getters, plus the text of all six Honourable Mentions) can be accessed at this link: